Mari de Villa: A Special Invitation

Seniors looking for a new home in the new year are invited to discover it at Mari de Villa. Two villas recently have become available at the 27-acre senior living campus, which offers all levels of care, from independent to assisted living, 24-hour skilled nursing and memory care.

The 54 private, independent, custom-designed Villa Estates, which range from 1,000- to 3,000-square-feet, are surrounded by a community with all-inclusive activities to enhance guests’ daily lifestyle. The two available villas each have two bedrooms and three bathrooms and expansive kitchens with top-of-the-line appliances and granite countertops, as well as a large living room, dining room, den, garage and screened porch, explains president Fred Wiesehan. “One villa overlooks the lake, and one has a lower level with an office and a guest bedroom.”

And when guests choose Mari de Villa, they can expect a personalized new home, Weisehan notes. “We refurbish and redesign the space to the new guests’ specifications, so that it is brand new and to their tastes.” The top-to-bottom renovation includes new paint, appliances and flooring. Guests also can take comfort in their privacy, as each villa features its own entrance. “They can pull their car into their own garage and enter their villa,” Wiesehan says. “There’s not one big public lobby and elevators to certain floors.”

Each new guest also becomes a part of the community’s family, as Mari de Villa’s ownership and management all live on campus, Wiesehan says. “Sometimes people ask why we refer to our residents as guests—and it’s because we’re trying to be the host and make happy while they’re here. They know they can call on us and know that we’re hands on.” During the campus’ recent New Year’s Eve dinner, a longtime resident told Wiesehan and his wife, Mary Kay, one thing he likes most is the size of the community. “He said, We all know each other, have bonded and look out for each other,” Wiesehan recalls.

Guests become acquainted through a multitude of activities and outings they can choose to participate in throughout the year. Weekly classes include bridge, water aerobics and book clubs, and additional entertainment is provided, from daily live music, social hours and guest speakers to holiday parties. More than 150 guests and their family members attended the community’s recent Christmas Party, while its New Year’s Eve Dinner and additional candlelight meals throughout the holiday season also were well-attended, Wiesehan says. Off-campus, activities include staff-escorted bus trips to some of St. Louis’ most-loved venues, such as Missouri Botanical Gardens, Saint Louis Art Museum, Chandler Hill Winery, St. Louis Public Library, Mike Shannon’s and The Blue Owl Restaurant in historic Kimmswick.

The recently available villas became open when guests who had been living at Mari de Villa for more than 10 years decided to move to the 24-hour nursing care area of the campus. It’s another aspect that sets apart the community, Wiesehan says—the continuation of care it can offer. “Our staff gets to know guests and they get to know us, so the transition always is very smooth.”